Introduction

Leprosy and poliomyelitis are ancient diseases. Thanks to medical advancements, the worldwide prevalence of these conditions has decreased; many regions have even eradicated them. However, in some areas, they persist, creating ongoing challenges for patients. This course provides a basic overview of the aetiology, epidemiology, and clinical presentation of leprosy and poliomyelitis. It discusses therapeutic interventions and special treatment considerations for each disease that are relevant to rehabilitation professionals. The information shared in this course also highlights opportunities to remove the stigma that still surrounds these medical diagnoses.

Learning outcomes

At the end of this course you will be able to:

• describe the basic aetiology and pathology of leprosy and the two commonly used classification systems for this disease
• discuss evidence-based rehabilitation interventions for leprosy management and strategies for addressing leprosy-related stigma in healthcare settings
• explain the basic aetiology and pathogenesis of poliomyelitis, and the four-stage clinical progression of paralytic poliomyelitis
• discuss stage-specific rehabilitation management approaches for poliomyelitis, from acute phase interventions to recovery phase strategies

Target audience

This course is aimed at Physiotherapy and Physical Therapy clinicians, students and assistants. Other interested professionals such as athletic trainers, occupational therapists, nurses or medical doctors interested in this subject are also invited to participate.

Practicalities

• Availability - this course is online and can be completed on your own schedule.
• Hours of Learning - No deadlines are applied to this course and it can be started and completed in your own time according to your personal schedule. We expect the required elements to take around 1.5-2 hours depending on your schedule and learning style. Additionally there are many optional resources provided and if you choose to review these the course could take longer to complete.
• Types of Activities - This course includes instructional and/or practical videos, reading activities, AI supported learning activities, reflection, evaluation forms, a quiz and additional resources.
• Certificates - At the end of the course, when you have completed all of the required elements, you will be able to download a certificate of completion and 1.7 Plus points will be added to your personalised learning dashboard.

Instructor financial and non-financial disclosures

No relevant relationships disclosed by instructor.

Accessibility and Non-Discrimination Policy

Physiopedia Plus is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible learning environment for all participants. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, national origin, religion, sex, disability, military status, sexual orientation or age in any aspect of our continuing education services. We are dedicated to ensuring that all learners can fully participate in our programmes. Participants who require accommodations or have special needs are encouraged to contact us with details so that we can make all reasonable efforts to meet these requirements.